Handyman allegedly kidnapped, forced to repair home in NorCal

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Authorities say the handyman was lured to the home, beaten and forced to do repair work on household appliances on Monday.

December 6, 2012 12:02:17 AM PST

FRESNO, California --

There was a bizarre kidnapping and a daring escape that happened in the Bay Area. Authorities say a handyman was threatened, beaten, and forced to do repair work for several hours. It started Monday morning at a home Caldwell Court in Morgan Hill and ended at the Chevron gas station on Santa Teresa Boulevard and Cottle Road in San Jose. San Jose police descended on the Chevron station after the handyman escaped and called 911. The clerk says officers drew their weapons as the two kidnapping suspects nervously shopped for snacks.

The ordeal lasted nearly seven hours inside a home on Caldwell court in Morgan Hill. Authorities say the handyman was lured to the home, beaten and forced to do repair work on household appliances on Monday.

"Pretty much told, 'Hey, we're going to kill you if you don't do what we tell you. We want you to fix these things around the house.' Out of fear of the unknown and of what's going to happen to him...," said Santa Clara County Sheriff's Sgt. Jose Cardoza.

According to the sheriff's office, those threats and assaults came from Jason DeJesus, 36, and Chanelle Troedson, 33, who live at the home. Authorities say what brought the handyman to the home was a dispute over work he'd done for a relative of one of the suspects. Around 5:30 Monday, they allegedly forced him to drive to the Chevron station in San Jose on the way to finish work on the other home. Left alone at a pump, the handyman bolted from his truck as the accused kidnappers were inside shopping for snacks.

"Until the police showed up, they pointed the gun in the window, and said, ' I'm going to shoot you in the face' and that's when I just kind of recommended to the guy, 'Hey, it would probably be a good idea if you did what the man said,'" said Rodney Torres, the gas station clerk.

The handyman had called 911 from Eric Hedrick's nearby home. The man didn't want his face on camera.

"A blond-haired gentleman came to my door, knocked on the door frantically asking if he could use my phone. Apparently, he said he'd been kidnapped and beaten and I could visibly see he had some injuries," said Hedrick.

That neighbor said the handyman had blood on the side of his face. Even though authorities say there was no gun or knife involved, the suspects were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping and false imprisonment. The suspects are currently in the Santa Clara County jail.